EX TENEBRIS CRESCIT FLOS
I'M WEIRD AND PROUD OF IT
I Would Never Want to Be Considered "Normal"
May 20, 2004
I'm weird, and I have always been proud of that fact. But exactly what does
that mean? Perhaps I should first define the word's opposite, "normal".
To be "normal" is to fit in perfectly with the larger society and to do what
the society expects. On the downside, this implies a lack of autonomy. Many
people seem to go through life seldom challenging social conventions; they
simply do what they are supposed to do. They go to school, go to church,
do what their parents expect of them, have families, and get old and die, all
without "rocking the boat" too much.
Perhaps that works for them, but it definitely does not work for me.
Even since before I discovered that I was transgendered, I was always
eccentric. I did my own thing, even when others made fun of me over it. I
went to school and did well (which does rank among society's expectations),
but I don't go to church (or even believe in any religion), and I never got
married or had a family. I have always enjoyed unusual hobbies, especially
developing collections of odd and unusual items and exploring parts of the
desert where most people seldom go. I am a Democrat, which in Utah is
definitely not normal. Finally, I am not shy about expressing my views on
various matters, even when these views may be unpopular. Of course, on top of
my other eccentricities, I am a transsexual. Much of this, perhaps,
makes me "weird" in the eyes of many people. It is a label which I wear
proudly.
Now how common are "weird" people? It, of course, depends on the definition,
but my broad definition of weirdness allows a large number of people to be
included. While human nature tends to favor conformity, there is a strong
individualistic streak. People, by nature, wish to push the boundaries of
their situations. Those who do so in ways which are visible may be considered
"weird" or even "dangerous" by others around them. Some societies do not
tolerate weirdness at all; people who do not fit in are imprisoned, banished,
or even killed. Fortunately, the United States and many other "civilized"
nations have protections for individual rights, which will naturally
encourage a diversity of opinions and lifestyles. To be weird in these
countries is not necessarily life-threatening, but it doesn't necessarily
make life easy. Social acceptance is not necessarily found, and legal
protections can be inadequate. Still, to benefit from the advantages of
independent thought is preferable to blind conformity. To answer my earlier
question, I believe that weird people are actually quite common; it may be that
truly "normal" people are actually the rare ones. Anyone
has this potential, and anyone who breaks some of the bounds of conformity
can be considered "weird".
I chose the name for this website, "Heather's House of Transgendered
Weirdness", in part to emphasize the fact that being transgendered in this
society is indeed weird - it deviates considerably from accepted social
conventions. But weird is good. As can be seen from my articles, I am quite
happy to be this way and I would not trade it for anything. So all of you
weirdos out there, be proud of who you are. You are the ones who make life
interesting.
All contents of this site, unless otherwise noted, Copyright 2002-2008
Heather Harrison. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to accredited
educational institutions to copy and use this material as desired, in whole or
in part, provided that proper credit is given.